The annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) was held in New York last week. Many of the best Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons, both members and guests, gathered to share the latest techniques and dispel the latest myths in plastic surgery innovation.
What is the ASAPS?
The ASAPS is the largest professional society for Board Certified Plastic Surgeons who practice Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. The group split from the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS) to provide Plastic Surgeons with a professional organization dedicated to the specialty of cosmetic surgery. Most members maintain membership in the ASAPS and the mother society, now renamed the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The national meetings of the ASAPS and ASPS are two of the largest of their kind in the world.
What’s new in Plastic Surgery?
The ASAPS meeting provides scientific papers, lectures and instructional courses covering the latest refinements in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. This is one reason I go out of my way to attend. The other main reason is the manufacturers displays. The latest innovations in plastic surgery are there to be seen, and the manufacturers representatives are available to explain it all.
What’s New in Breast Implants
If you are a frequent reader of the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog, you may already have the latest cosmetic plastic surgery information, but here is a recap of some of the newest offerings in Breast Implants. Both these implants are next generation products with highly cohesive silicone gel interiors. The terminology for these devices has become very confusing, but you may know them as gummy bear, form-stable or high-strength silicone gel filled breast implants.
New Breast Implants from Allergan
So what was new? For Breast Augmentation, this was the first national meeting with the newly approved Allergan style 410 shaped breast implants.
Allergan Natrelle 410 Breast Implants get FDA Approval.
These are the latest generation of silicone breast implants. The improvement is inside with these implants. They are filled with a form-stable, high-strength gel that maintains its shape better than any other implant. While not right for everyone, they do represent an improvement in shaped breast implant technology, and will be especially useful for women needing breast reconstruction after a mastectomy and for women born with little to no breast tissue.
New Breast Implants from Sientra
Sientra was well represented too. Sientra offers the latest in smooth round breast implant technology. Sientra’s breast implants are made with a stronger shell and form-stable high-strength gel.
Sientra Breast Implants made by Silimed
The gel in the Sientra Breast Implants is not as stiff as the new Allergan 410′s; however, it is stiff enough to resist flow, as the breast implant that I divided in half last year can attest to, but feels softer. It also does not suffer from problems with shell separation and gel shearing that the 410 does. Both Sientra’s and Allegan’s latest offering represent improvements from the previous Breast Implants.
New Dressing to Reduce Scars
Last year, I was a clinical investigator for a novel scar treatment manufactured by Neodyne Biosciences.
Embrace – A novel scar treatment.
The product, Embrace, was launched last weekend, at the ASAPS meeting in New York City. Embrace is a new silicone dressing specifically designed to shield an incision from stress and improve the appearance of the scar. Initial trails were conducted for Tummy Tuck scar, and the results were good. Dressings of various shapes and sizes are available to match the size of the incision. Notice I say incision not scar. These dressings are made for use right after an incision is closed, or a scar is surgically revised, to help improve the scar formation.
But Wait! There’s More!
These are just three of the most exciting offerings from ASAPS. This is also the 250th entry for the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog. As long as there is something new to present, I will keep blogging. Thank you for all your support, and interesting questions. If you have a question, feel free to email using the form on the left.
If you are interested in learning more about a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure, the best way to learn is by consulting a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, like myself. While the Internet is amazing, there is no substitute for an in-person consultation. To reach my San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery office in Walnut Creek, CA, call (925) 943-6353.